Cultivator.



M. S. YODER.

GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. e, 1913.

1,064,585. Patented June 10,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR A llorney COLUMEM FLANouRAPH C0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

M. S. YODER. GULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1913.

1,064,585. Patented June 10,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES Z/i/M COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0,.WASHINGTON. D. c.

GULTIV ATOR.

ostess.

Application filed January 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mnnno S. Yonnn, a i citizen of the United Statesresiding at bhipshewana, in the county of Lagrange and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful improvements in Cultivators, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cultivating implements, particularly designedfor mulching 1 corn.

At a certain period in the growth of the i corn plant it sends or shootsout tiny feeding roots all over the loose soil between the i rows ofcorn for the collection of moisture 1 and plant food and any implementused for cultivation that runs deep into the soil cuts or breaks off agreat many of these roots to the injury of the growing crop. Varioustools and implements have been used for such for inthe purpose ofmulching corn,

five shovel stance, as double shovel plows, Cultivators, spring toothcultivators, spike tooth drags and two horse cultivators. In the use ofall of these tools many fine corn roots have been cut 01% to the injuryof the growing crop and it is necessary for the driver to walk and holdthe implement steady to do efficient work. This is very laborious andtiresome. Furthermore, the cultivator-s with shovels also leave theground in continuous ridges, leaving much surface exposed to the dryinginfluence of the sun and wind and also allow the water to run off fromthe field as readily as if the ground were left smooth.

It is therefore one object to provide an implement particularly adaptedto operate upon the crust formed upon the surface of the ground to breakit and thereby provide a dust mulch to conserve the moisture for the useof the corn plants and thereby destroy small weeds and not cutso deeplyinto the soil as to injure the corn roots.

Another object resides in the provision of a corn mulcher implement soconstructed and operable in such a way as to permit its use for themaking of dust mulch up to the time the crop is almost matured.

Another object is to provide a cultivating implement particularlyadapted to form a dust mulch or to form a dust mulch and also undulatethe ground between rows of corn or other plants with'the implementpreferably provided with wheels located with such relation to theimplement as to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenteddune 1f), i9i3.

1913. Serial No. 740,485.

cover up the tracks made by the wheels dur ing the formation of the dustmulch.

A still further object is to provide an implement which may or may notbe of the wheeled type and which is designed to carry the driver, todestroy small weeds and effect a perfect dust mulch;

It is still further designed to provide an implement of the characterdescribed embodying among other characteristics means whereby a dustmulch may be formed and properly distributed between rows of corn orother plants and the formation of shallow depressions made in thesurface of the soil to hold the water and give it time to soak into theground and not run off of the field without making these depressions sodeep or so close together as to be objectionable in driving over theground with a corn binder, wagon or other vehicle or apparatus.

l l ith the above and other objects in view the present inventionconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be madein the form, proportion, size and minor detailswithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invent-ion.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top planview. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified arrangement.Fig. e is a rear view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 isa detail fragmentary sectional view through one end of the axle andboxing and one of the wheels. Fig. 6 is a face view of one of the wheelsillustrating the hub cap secured eccentrically thereto.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings thereference character 10 indicates upon the surface soil to scrape andbreak or pulverize the soil crust and thereby form a dust mulch andunder certain conditions to form undulations in the surface soil betweenrows of corn, cane, sorghum or Kafir corn or other plants. This surfacesoil breaking member 10 is preferably oval in shape but it may beperfectly circular in shape if desired. It is preferably secured to abeam or other body member 11 and spaced therefrom through theinstrumentality of suitable connections, such for instance, as benches12 the element which operates bolted or otherwise secured to the soilcrust breaking member 10. If desired, braces 14L may be employed betweenthe members 10 and 11.

Suitable draft appliances 15 may be secured to the forward end of thebody member 11 and a support 16 for a seat 17 may be also securedthereto, together with a bar 18 secured in any suitable manner to itsrear end and projecting upon opposite sides thereof for grip by theoperator of the implement to lift and turn the implement at the ends ofthe rows.

While I have stated that the surface soil breaking member 10 may beperfectly circu lar, I preferably form it oval in shape with "the samehaving somewhat peculiar formation. It is preferably formed of a narrowsteel strip and preferably semicircular in cross section with the upperand lower edges comparatively sharp. The forward half of this surfacesoil treating member 10 preferably has its rounded face on the innerside with its flat face on the outer side. The rear half of this member10 preferably has its rounded surface on the outer side with its flatsurface on the inner side. One way in which this member 10 may be formedis to take two strips of steel or other suitable narrow strip materialof the same length and bend the same, one with its flat surface on theinner side and one with its flat surface on its outer side. The twomembers may then be jointed together by awelding or other process toform either an oval or annular crust breaking member.

The implement will do effective work by merely dragging it along theground. That is to say, the surface soil or crust may be effectivelybroken or pulverized by dragging the implement between the rows. Iprefer, however, to provide a wheeled implement. This may be done invarious ways. One way is to provide a single pair of wheels 19 and havethese wheels arranged so that they may be raised and lowered withrespect to the beam 11. The wheels 19 are preferably of wood but thematerial of which the wheels are formed is more or less immaterial. Asshown, the wheels 19 are carried by a lever A comprising two spaced bars20 connected at their outer ends by a head 21 and near the head 21connected by a brace 22. This lever A has its head 21 disposedpreferably on its upper side so that the lever may be let down withouthurting the operators fingers and its bars 20 are preferably beveled tolighten the same. The lever preferably straddles the beam 11 and ispivotally connected to the latter preferably by means of a bolt 23having a head 23 and a fastening nut 23 The lower ends of the members 20of the lever preferably extend below the beam 11 and terminate above thesurface soil breaking member 10.

The lever A has secured to the inner ends of the members 20 in anysuitable manner, preferably by means of clamps 24, an axle boxing 25 inwhich is journaled a hollow axle 26 whose ends project beyond the endsof the boxing. The boxing 25 is provided with apertures 27 through whichoil may be fed to lubricate the axle, there being bands 28 to cover theapertures 27 to exclude dustor other foreign matter.

The wheels 19 are each preferably provided with apertures 29 and 29 andto the inner side of each wheel is secured in any suitable manner a hubB. Each hub B includes a plate 30 provided with prongs 31 that areadapted to bite into the inner side of the corresponding wheel. Each hubplate B has an annular socket 32 provided with an annular shoulder 32adapted to be engaged by an end of the boxing 25, the hollow axle 26fitting in said socket 32 and at each end having anotch 32 to engage ashoulder 32 in the socket 32 to insure rotation of both wheels together.Each plate 30 also has extending through it an aperture 33 which leadsinto the socket 32. Extending through the hollow axle 26 and through theapertures 33 of the plates 30 and also through the apertures 29 of thewheels 19 is a bolt 34 and by securing washer plates 35 on the ends ofthe bolt 34 and adjacent the outer faces of the wheels 19 and employingnuts 34 on the ends of the rod 34, an effective hub connection for thewheels results and the latter are held in proper op erative relation. totheir axle.

The hub plates B are readily disconnected from the inner faces of thewheels and adjustably secured to the inner sides of the wheels so thatthe peripheries 27 of the hub caps may be positioned adjustably withrelation to the apertures 29 and 29 of the wheels 19. If the hubs B aresecured at the center of the wheels and the lever A be positioned asshown in Fig. 3, the wheels 19 will be so positioned that both the frontpart and the rear part of the surface breaking member will at all timesscrape the surface soil, pulverizing it, and forming a dust mulch,forcing part of the mulch to each side of the row to check water andprevent it from running off the field sidewise of the rows and alsocausing the mulch to be passed over the crust breaking member and leftin loose condition between the rows. The crust breaking member 10 ismade of a comparatively narrow strip of steel which causes most of thepulverized soil to fall over it and make a good dust mulch. lVhen thehubs are set off the centers of the wheels as shown in Figs. 1, 4:, 5and 6, the rear part of the surface breaking member digs comparativelyhard when the small side of the wheels is down and lets more of the dirtor crust lie when the any larger side of the wheel is down with theresult that the ground gone over is undulated or given a wavelikeappearance without forming deep undulations. Thus, upon eccentricallymounting the wheels 19, the implement is given a rocking or wave-likemotion with the result that the surface crust is broken and pulverizedand part of the loose soil is forced toward the rows to check the waterwhile part of the loose soil passes over the crust-breaking member andundulations are formed between the rows to hold the heavy down pour ofrain and permit it to soak into the ground rather than permit the waterto run off from the field. The machine is thus capable of performingsmooth work or undulating work and has its axle and wheels so mountedthat through the instrunientality of a lever the depth of the cut ineither the undulating or flat scraping process may be regulated.

To hold the wheels 19 in various adjusted positions 1 preferably mountin any suitable manner upon the beam 11 a segment 37 provided with aplurality of apertures 38. This segment 37 has slidable engagement in anotch 39 formed in the bars 22 and closed by a plate 40 secured to theunder side of the brace 22. The segment 87 thus slides in a slot in thelever A. Slidably mounted in the grooves 41 on the inner sides of theparallel members 20 of the lever A is the gripping part 42 of a bolt 43slidable in an aperture in the brace 22. Encircling this bolt 48 is aspring 44 designed to force the bolt 43 normally through the brace 22and into one of the apertures 38 of the segment- 37 according to thedesired adjustment of the wheel 19. This lever A is within ready reachof the driver on the seat 17 who may readily grasp the part 42 of thelatch and lift the bolt 43 out of an aperture 38 in the segment 37 andpermit the bolt to engage in any one of the plurality of apertures insaid segment 37 according to the adjustment desired.

The implement is preferably provided with a foot rest 45 and as shown inthe accompanying drawings the foot rest 45 and draft appliances areassociated together. The operator with his feet is enabled to direct toa small degree the course of travel of the implement when it is drawn bythe horse or other animal.

By virtue of the peculiar formation of the crust breaking member thesame is readily reversible and it will be noted that the wheels of theimplement are arranged inside of this member 10 so that no wheel tracksare apparent in the ground gone over by the implement. The crustbreaking member is of such form and construction that there is no dangerof cutting off stalks in the event that the same should come in contactwith rows of corn.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a wheeled body member, of asubstantially oval-shaped soil crust breaking member secured to saidbody member.

2. The combination with a body member, of a substantially oval-shapedsoil crust breaking member secured to said body member.

8. The combination with a wheeled body member, of a substantiallyoval-shaped soil crust breaking member secured to said body member, thecrust breaking member surrounding the wheels of the body member.

4. The combination with a wheeled body member, of a substantiallyoval-shaped soil crust breaking member secured to said body member, thecrust breaking member surrounding the wheels of the body member, andhaving its upper and lower edges relatively sharp.

5. The combination with a body member, of a substantially oval shapedsoil crust breaking member secured to said body member, the crustbreaking member surrounding the wheels of the body member.

6. The combination with a body member, of a substantially oval shapedsoil crust breaking member secured to said body member, the crustbreaking member surrounding the Wheels of the body member, and havingits upper and lower edges relatively sharp.

7 The combination with a wheeled body member, of a comparatively narrowsubstantially oval-shaped soil crust breaking member secured to saidbody member, and means for rocking the crust breaking member to undulatethe soil.

8. The combination with a wheeled body member, of a crust breakingmember surrounding the wheels of the body member, and means to operatethe crust breaking member to undulate the soil.

9. The combination with a-body member,

of a soil crust breaking member carried by the body member, a leverswingingly mounted 011 the body member, wheels supported from said leverand adjustable thereby to regulate the depth of cut of the crustbreaking member, and means to hold the lever in' adjusted positions.

10. The combination with a wheeled body member, of a crust breakingmember secured to the body member in spaced relation thereto andsurrounding the wheels of the body member.

11. The combination with a wheeled body member, of a crust breakingmember secured to the body member, and means for rocking the crustbreaking member soil.

12. The combination with a body member, of a crust breaking membersecured to the body member, and means for rocking the crust breakingmember to undulate the soil.

to undulate the 13. The combination with a wheeled body member havingits wheels mounted eccentrically on the axis of the body member, of asoil crust breaking member secured to said body member.

14:. The combination with a Wheeled body member having its wheelsmounted eccentrically on the axis of the body member, of a soil crustbreaking member secured to said body member, and surrounding the wheelsof the body member.

15. The combination with a Wheeled body member having its Wheels mountedeccen trically thereon, of a substantially oval shaped soil crustbreaking membersecured to said. body member.

16. The combination with a Wheeled body member, of a reversible soilcrust breaking member secured to said body member.

17. The combination with a Wheeled body member, of a reversible soilcrust breaking member secured to said body member and surrounding thewheels of the body member.

18. The combination With a body member, of a reversible substantiallyoval: shaped crust breaking member spaced from the body member andhaving comparatively sharp operating edges.

19. The combination with a body member, of a soil crust breaking membercarried by the body member, a lever swingingly mount ed on the bodymember, Wheels adjustably supported from said lever, a segment securedto the body member and having apertures therein, and a latch carried bythe lever for engagement in the apertures of the segment tointerchangeably hold the lever in adjusted positions.

20. The combination with a body member, of a soil crust breaking membercarried by the body member, a lever swingingly mounted on the bodymember, wheels adjustably supported from said lever, a segment securedbody member, and a foot rest secured to the body member.

21. The combination with a body member, of a soil crust breaking memberconnected to the body member and arranged to permit the loosened soil topass over the crust breaking member.

22. The combination with a body member, of a soil crust breaking memberconnected to the body member and arranged to permit a portion of theloosened soil to pass over the crust breaking member and to deflect aportion of the broken soil to the side of the implement.

23. The combination with a body member, of a soil crust breaking memberconnected to the body member and arranged to permit the loosened soil topass over the crust breaking member beneath the body member.

24. The combination with a body member, of a soil crust breaking memberconnected to the body member and arranged to permit the loosened soil topass over the crust breaking member, and means to adjust and gage thedepth of cut of the crust breaking member.

25. The combination with a body member, of a soil crust breaking membersecured to said body member and surrounding the wheels of the bodymember and adapted to pulverize the ground and cover the tracks made bythe Wheels.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MENNO S. YODER.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES A. RYLAND, JONATHAN FARvER.

Copies of this patent maj be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, C.

